Pitless well adaptor locking props



Sept. 5, 1961 H. w. MAASS 2,998,847

PITLESS WELL ADAPTOR LOCKING PROPS Filed Feb. 8, 1960 :Wai 20.9w?$014155 v/IYW particularly important in respect to pressures reacting asto brace the well adaptor and its appurtenances against United StatesPatent r 2,998,847 PITL'ESS WELL ADAPTOR LOCKING PRQPS Herbert W. Maass,10940 W. Congress St. Milwaukee, Wis. Filed Feb. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 7,4058 Claims. (Cl. 166-85) This invention relates to improvements inpitlesswell adaptor locking props. In the prior Herbert W. Maass et al. PatentNo. 2,841,- 233, there is disclosed a pitless well adaptor forsubmersible pump wells in which the pump and its appurtenances can beconveniently and quickly removed for repairs and inspection.

The aforesaid prior construction includes a sanitary fitting within thewell casing which connects both with a vertically extending water flowpipe and an outwardly directed water supply pipe. The portions of theassemblage within the well casing may be withdrawn from the well casingvertically by a drop pipe temporarily applied to the upper end of thefitting. It is highly desirable that the fitting be maintained in properposition within the well casing so that the connection portions thereofwill align at all times with the water flow pipe and with theconnections for the outgoing water supply pipe, and this is within thefitting and connecting pipes which might undesirably cause the fittingto deflect laterally.

With the above in mind, therefore, it is a primary ob ject of thepresent invention to provide for a pitless well adaptor, a locking proppermanently associated with an end portion of the well adaptor fittingand susceptible of manipulation within the well casing to releasablywedgingly engage an inner wall portion of the well casing so anyundesired lateral deflection.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pitless I welladaptor, a locking wedge which, through a simple rectilinearreciprocation, may be adjusted into its locked wedging position to serveas a stabilizing prep for the well adaptor fitting and itsappurtenances, or which may be reciprocated to an unlocked positionwherein the well adaptor may be withdrawn vertically from the wellcasing for inspection and repairs.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a pitless welladaptor, an articulated locking prop per manently carried by a portionof the adaptor fitting and to which a drop pipe may be temporarilysecured when it is desired to unlock and disengage the prop from theinner wall of the well casing and to withdraw the adaptor from the wellcasing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pitless well adaptorlocking prop which is very easy to manually manipulate, which isunobtrusively carried by the pitless well adaptor within the wellcasing, which is inexpensive to manufacture and install, which is strongand durable, and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of theimproved pitless well adaptor locking prop, and its parts andcombinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views:

FIG. 1' is a vertical sectional View. through the upper portion of awell installation of the pitless and submersible pump type embodying theimproved adaptor and the locking prop therefor, the latter being shownin its locked position;

FIG, 2 is a vertical sectional View similar to FIG. 1 only showing thelocking prop shifted to its unlocked position which will permit theupward withdrawal of the well lCQ adaptor and its appurtenances,including a pump, from the well casing; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

Referring now more particularly 'to the drawing it will appear that awell casing, of'circular form in cross section, is indicated generallyby the numeral 5 and the same protrudes above the ground level arequired distance. As is shown in prior Patent No. 2,841,223, the upperend of the casing 5 may have applied thereto a removable sealing cap orclosure. The well casing 5-, below the frost level, has an opening 6formed on a side wall portion thereof over which there is welded the lipor ledge portion of a box '7 which may take the form or the boxillustrated in my'copending application Serial No. 7,392 or of thatillustrated in said prior Patent No. 2,841 ,223. Within the well casing5 adjacent the opening over which the box 7 is applied there is ametallic chambered fitting 8 to which is secured the upper end portionof a flow pipe 9 which extends downwardly into the lower portion of thewell casing to have water forced upwardly therein when the well pump(not shown) is in operation. Obviously, pumped water will pass from theupper end of the fiow pipe 9 into the cavity of the fitting 8 and theninto the downwardly outwardly oifset portion 8 of the fitting which ishoused within the well adaptor box '7 and which carries an outwardlyprojecting nipple 10 which connects with a water supply pipe (not shown)which leads to a point where the water is to be utilized.

The improved locking prop for the adaptor includes a vertical pipesection 11 and a complementary pipe section or sleeve 12 which istelescopically mounted on the upper end portion of the pipe section ll.

A well adaptor fitting 8 of the type illustrated is customarily providedwith an internally threaded socket into which the lower end portion of adrop pipe may be threaded when the installation is being made or whenthe parts are to be removed from the well casing for repairs andinspection. In the present invention, however, the lower end portion ofthe pipe section 11 of the locking prop is externally threaded and ispermanently screwed into the socket 1310f the fitting 3. Adjacent thelower threaded end portion of the pipe section '11 the outer endportions of a pair of lever arms 14 are pivotally secured to oppositesides of said pipe section by a transverse pivot bolt 15. Similarly theouter end portions of a pair of complementary lever arms 16 are securedto opposite external lower wall portions of the sleeve 12 by pivot studs17 which are vertically aligned with the pivot bolt 15. The oppositeends of both pairs of lever arms 14 and 16 are pivotally mounted on'anaxle 18 on which there is mounted fast, between said ends of the leverarms, a locking and wedgiug roller 19. The latter is preferably formedof a hard rubber or. composition.

In the use of the improved well adaptor locking prop the adaptorelements and connections are mounted within the well casing 5 in themanner described in said prior Patent No. 2,841,223. It should beunderstood that the pipe section 11 of the locking prop is attached tothe threaded socket portion 13 of the adaptor fitting 8. To lower theassemblage into the well casing 5 and to manipulate the locking prop avertical drop pipe 29 may be secured onto the threaded upper end portionof the sleeve 12. In FIG. 2 the locking prop is in its releasedcondition but by moving the sleeve 12 downwardly on the pipe section 12.through the drop pipe 20 or otherwise, the

pairs of lever armsl l and 16 will be caused to jackroller 19 to projectlaterally and to tightly impinge against the inner surface of the wallcasing 5, as in FIG. 1. The parts will remain in this position as longas the sleeve 12 is not reciprocated upwardly because the jack-knifedposition of the lever arms 14-16 is slightly over center.

When the drop pipe 20 which is temporarily applied is detached, the wellis ready for use and the locking prop, which includes the elements 11,12, 14, 16 and 19 will hold and brace the pipe sections 11 and 12, thefitting 8, and the attached water flow pipe 9 against any lateraldeflection or misalignment notwithstanding pressures built up in thefluid system. The locking prop is especially useful in adaptors used inshallow well high pressure installations.

It is obvious that when the installation is to be withdrawn verticallyupwardly through the well casing for repairs or inspection, it is merelynecessary to reapply the drop pipe 20 to the upper end of the sleeve 12.Then, by pulling upwardly on the drop pipe the sleeve 12 will be causedto telescope upwardly outwardly on the pipe 'section 12 which will causethe pairs of levers 1416 to jack-knife to open position removing theroller 19 from its wedging contact with the inner Wall of the Wellcasing, as in FIG. 2. All of the parts connected to the adaptor fitting8 may be withdrawn vertically upwardly through the well casing becausethe fitting will disengage the inner end of the nipple with which it hasa force fit.

The improved locking prop for a pitless well adaptor is associated withthe adaptor elements within the well casing in a very simple manner anddoes not in any way interfere with the normal functioning of the welladaptor nor its appurtenances. A simple reciprocatable movement appliedto the sleeve portion of the locking prop is effective to cause lockingor unlocking movements of the prop. When the prop is in its lockedposition it efiiciently stabilizes the elements of the well adaptor andis otherwise well adapted for the purposes described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In combination, a well casing, a fiuid pipe fitting removablyanchored within said well casing, an upright member within the wellcasing fixed at one end to said fitting, a member telescopicallyengaging said upright member and extending axially of the casing, an armpivotally carried at its inner end by said upright member, a second armpivotally carried at its inner end by said telescoping member, said armsprojecting laterally of said upright and telescoping members within thewell casing and at an angle to its axis, a pivot member directlypivotally connecting the outer ends of said arms to permit opening andclosing movements of said arms upon relative telescopic movement of saidupright and telescoping members, and a wedging member mounted on saidpivot member adjacent the outer ends of said arms, the arms being of alength to releasably engage the wedging member with an inner wallportion of the well casing when said arms are jackknifed toward closedposition.

2. In combination, a well casing, a fluid pipe fitting removablyanchored within said well casing, first and second telescopicallyassociated members within the well casing and extending axially thereof,one of said telescopically associated members being carried by saidfitting, a pair of lever arms, a pivot member directly pivotallyconnecting the lever arms at their outer ends and carrying an engagementelement, the inner end of one arm being pivotally connected to the firsttelescopic member and the inner end of the other arm being pivotallyconnected to the second telescopic member, said arms projectinglaterally of the axis of said well casing and being of a length tojack-knife upon relative telescopic movement of said telescopic membersto a position wherein said engagement element is releasably wedgedagainst an inner wall portion of the well casing to stabilize saidfitting.

3. In combination, a vertical wall casing, a cham- ,bered fittingreleasably anchored within said well casing,

4 l a vertical fluid pipe connected to the lower portion of saidfitting, first and second telescopically associated members Within thewell casing and extending axially thereof, one of which is rigidlycarried by the upper portion of said fitting, a pair of lever arms,means directly pivotally connecting said lever arms at their outer endsand carrying a wedging element, the inner end of one arm being pivotallyconnected to the first telescopic member and the inner end of the otherarm being pivotally connected to the second telescopic member, said armsprojecting laterally of the axis of said well casing and being of alength to jack-knife upon relative telescopic movement of saidtelescopic members to releasably project said wedging element intowedging engagement with an inner wall portion of the well casing tostabilize said fitting.

4. In combination, a vertical well casing, a chambered fittingreleasably anchored within said well casing and carrying a dependingvertically disposed pipe, first and second telescopically associatedmembers within the well casing extending axially thereof over saidfitting with one of said members being afiixed at its lower end to saidfitting, a pair of lever arms, a stud pivotally connecting the outerends of said lever arms, a roller carried by said stud, the inner end ofone arm being pivotally connected to the first telescopic member and theinner end of the other arm being pivotally connected to the secondtelescopic member, said arms projecting laterally of the axis of saidwell casing and being of a length to jack-knife toward closed positionupon relative telescopic movement of said telescopic members in onedirection and releasably wedge said roller against an inner wall portionof the well casing to stabilize said fitting, and to jack-knife towardopen position upon a reverse telescopic movement of said telescopicmembers to withdraw the roller from its contact with the well casmg.

5. In combination, a vertical well casing, a chambered, well adaptorfitting removably anchored within said well casing and having a threadedupper end portion, a vertical fluid pipe connected to the lower portionof said fitting, first and second telescopically associated memberswithin the well casing and extending longitudinally thereof, the firstof said members having its lower end in threaded engagement with thethreaded upper end portion of said fitting and the second of saidmembers extending above said first member, a pair of lever arms, a studpivotally directly connecting said lever arms together at their outerends and carrying a wedging member, the inner end of one arm beingpivotally connected to the first telescopic member and the inner end ofthe other arm being pivotally connected to the second telcscopic member,said arms projecting laterally of the axis of said well casing and beingof a length to jackknife upon relative telescopic movement of saidtelescopic members to a position wherein said wedging member engages aninner wall portion of the well casing to stabilize said fitting.

6. In combination, a vertical well casing, a chambered, well adaptorfitting anchored within said well casing and having a threaded upper endportion, a vertical fluid pipe connected to the lower portion of saidfitting, first and second telescopically associated members positionedlongitudinally within the well casing, the first of said members havingits lower end in threaded engagement with the threaded upper end portionof said fitting and the second of said members extending above saidfirst member, and having its upper end formed to rigidly detachablyreceive an end portion of an elongated tool for the manual reciprocationof one telescopic member relative to the other, a pair of lever arms, astud directly pivotally connecting the outer ends of said lever arms andcarrying a wedging member, the inner end of one arm being pivotallyconnected to the first telescopic member and the inner end of the otherarm being piv- 3 otally connected to the second telescopic member, saidarms projecting laterally of the axis of said Well casing and beingadapted to jack-knife upon relative telescopic movement of saidtelescopic members to releasably project said wedging member intoengagement with an inner wall portion of the well casing to stabilizesaid fitting.

7. In combination, a vertical well casing, a chambered fitting anchoredWithin said well casing and carrying a depending vertically disposedpipe, first and second telescopically associated members positionedlongitudinally within the Well casing over said fitting with one of saidmembers being afiixed at its lower end to said fitting, a first pair oflever arms having their inner ends pivotally connected to opposite sidesof the first telescopic member, a second pair of lever arms having theirinner ends pivotally connected to opposite sides of the secondtelescopic member, an axle pivotally connecting the outer ends of all ofsaid lever arms, and a roller carried by said axle, said pairs of armsprojecting laterally of the axis of said well casing and the pivotalconnections for said arms being arranged so that a relative telescopicmovement of said telescopic members in one direction will eifect an overcenter relationship to wedgingly engage said roller with an inner sidewall portion of the well casing and maintain it in said position while areverse telescopic movement of said members will disengage said rollerfrom said Wall portion of the well casing.

8. In combination, a vertical well casing, a chambered well adaptorfitting fixed within said Well casing, an upright member within the wellcasing fixed at one end to said fitting and extending thereabove, amember telescopically engaging said upright member, an arm pivotallycarried at its inner end by said upright member, a second arm pivotallycarried at its inner end by said telescoping member, said armsprojecting laterally of said upright and telescoping members within theWell casing, a stud directly pivotally connecting the outer ends of saidarms to permit opening and closing movements of said arms upon relativetelescopic movement of said upright and telescoping members, the pivotalconnections for said arms being in oif center relationship when saidarms are in closed position, and a wedging member mounted on said studadjacent the outer ends of said arms to releasably engage an inner wallportion of the well casing to serve as a stabilizing prop for saidfitting when said arms are jack-knifed toward closed position, the armsand wedging member being maintained in said position by the off-centerrelationship of the pivotal connections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,009,322 Nelson July 23, 1935 2,262,655 Seale Nov. 11, 1941 2,771,955Carter Nov. 27, 1956 2,841,223 Mass et al. July 1, 1958 2,949,961Anderson Aug. 23, 1960

